The Bangor Daily News from Bangor, Maine • 9

PCjlCTORY WTT1 srtTD MAR SAV1N6S IDS i BANGOR MAINE MONDAY SECOND SECTION fBLVl IM I 1 --iPJy- -'aMBBB Bitrr81! Hr' JMMmgm ma fTn I "iHfS mL mW TB fe 4 a Bufsw Bful JuBtfc i ul UN PsNfc 1 Ik Wtm kj lBk jE visLs! sEssLB KiH mr bhbbubB mmmW mw afl bbbbsbbbbbbbbbbmbbbbbbbbbB CITY MORNING JANUARY 4 1943 9 BMbH BBk UMK9jk HtNw fli Bf BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBf bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbi mTA BkS 1 i 2BBb ilkiA Ikti ipti ir-j flBJ Smwm y-v -BVl BBVBJflHBar IBB BBBK: jBBfl BBKT BBBBBB 40BBBBBBBBB9 mmm mmnm Jwl- jVBBBB BP'XT mwrm wWM 9 Emm mi jwyi L'i RJ' bbbw i wr mm bUbI BbbhbbL mm BHbbI BBBBBH9BIS BB BbW BH BH Wl Jfl fl mm If JpfJ BBslBl B9B I bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbI 8bBBBBBBBB BbBWBBbbII JmJmwK JBBBBBBBBb! an escort of back by MR AND MRS JACK BENNY ARRIVE AT UNION STATION Waiting crowds are held soldiers and Bangor police officers as the popular radio entertainers arrived in Bangor Saturday Jack Benny And those in the theatre knew so to speak that they were no longer alone they had been joined by a great invisible audience upon the I Continued Prom the First Page COL AND MRS VALENTINE GREET BENNY AND PERFORMERS Among the most enthusiastic receivers air It isn't really spontaneous and ad lib this sort of broadcast This i the Jack Benny broadcast and show here were members of Bangor's units of the armed forces whose appreciation as expressed to the troupe Col Francis Valentine commander of Dow Field Above are Jack Benny Rose Blane oloist with the Abe Lyman orchestra Abe Lyman orchestra leader Mrs Valentine Col Valentine and Mary Liv one had been carefully written In fir 7 ingstone (Mrs Jack Benny) (Staff Photo the Bangor House by Benny's group of "gag men" and then had been rehearsed a good part of the afternoon But It SOUNDED spontaneous even to those who sat In the theatre for it was more Either 'Sully' Or 'Rochester' Is A Bit Confused Penny Himself Paid Every Cent Of the Expenses somehow than actors reading from their scripts Those on the stage seemed to be having as good a time as did those in the auditorium A spirit of camaraderie flowed across where the footlights for admission For the first time in years these arrangements were entirely in other hands It was a uniquely thrilling experience for those so fortunate as to get in Men from Dow Field were ushers All of the boxes were filled with assured young women in the WAACs Hundreds in uniform with a big sprinkling of civilians filled the auditorium There were seats in the orchestra pit and the lavender drapes at the left of the stage were pushed aside to make room for a few more But a good part of the thrill came in watching these radio stars at work It isn't often Bangor sees a nation-wide broadcast in the making Abe Lyman's orchestra was massed at the rear of the stage and there was novely in the massive "sound effects" about three times the size that most of us supposed strewn about it Every seat in the theatre was was no formality Benny played the violin and there were numbers by Rose Blane soloist with the Abe Lyman orchestra For the record this was the menu: Maine crab-meat cocktail Maine dams Maine lobsters Maine guide biscuits Maine apple pie and Maine guide tea Often when celebrities come here they leave town with a haste that Is something leas than complimentary Of course It's due to their every minute counts But Benny and his company have been here a day and a half and they won leave until this noon They mm I aw I BS BK BU BUT Wfl BUI 1 Bb JWHHBBHKHBj mS 'I mraBfl BVA 'B flPM mmr BBI Mm BBBBBBBBBBBBBBtt fl mMM BBBTwJ BKHaL HBJ BblBKIiirBHkw I I 111 lo Bf fll BY toPBi b1 Bj Be gPWi 111 RIAB Bjj wB BRBB Ji 9 Ba BiPBjpl Hfi Br jlfll BfeU BjijiB Bfp Bj BjVm BJ PFbB might have been Report those gags? As well try to describe the bubbles floating upward in a glass I of champagne Benny in private life took seats in the sleigh and Rochester drove them The procession started through Exchange street a police squad car leading off the army trucks following and the sleigh bringing up the rear The band and military escort didn't march As previously remarked the sleigh and the dinosaur have much in common Probably half the spectators had never even seen a a sleigh pn the streets of downtown Bangori And none of them had seen a tank on the streets so here was a double novelty There was almost a thrill as these tanks ambled along their turret guns pointed toward the sky Not a man was visible In them they might have been Frankenstein monsters some dtfy maybe to help destroy the most sinister Nazi of them all Tanks have names it seems These were "Abbey" "Rebel' and "Maude" the last named possessor of a siren that must have made the preceding squad car slightly jealous There was a tang in the air to put it mildly but the cold sunlight fell across streets almost bare of snow It wasn't typical usually The one man responsible for bringing Jack Benny's remarkable entertainment to Bangor was Jack Benny himself It was he who brought Use company here who paid the salaries and traveling expense who engaged and paid for the in short who absorbed the entire financial burden He Is taking his troupe from one army post to fine patriotic gesture The east must be staggering but he pays it all Usually the troupe visits about three posts a week Ha Is recompensed only for the broadcast which might as easily be made from Hollywood or any large and centrally located city But he wanU to give the softies aeem to like It mutual Official Death Toll of St John's In cold print many of them wouldn't really seem so funny It was all in the delivery the sense of timing That was the sheer artistry of it all and it can't be translated into type There was a moment however Just a flash when the performance threatened to break away from the script This was during a bit of by-play by Bob Welch as the Indian Chief In the hunting scene which evidently hadn't been expected For of course there was a hunting scene their minds as we said seemed to run In that direction The sketch ended with the bear in control of the situation Dennis Day who really has a voice was heard in numbers by Cole Porter The band put a lot of rhythm into the Maine Stein Song but the audience for some reason seemed a bit afraid to join "How we could have used Rudy "Mind if I ask yon a question?" said a News reporter to Eddie Anderson "Rochester" to you as the colored comedian industriously scrawled his autograph for a group of bright-eyed children and their solicitous mothers "Co ahead" "Ever with Van Anhelm's Minstrels?" "Wo" "Ever in Calais?" "No never But I know where you got the idea You got it frn 'Sully' (Cornelius Sullivan manager of the Bijou Theatre) He was so sure that 1 offered to bet him a hat and he took me up Then as he still seemed sure I offered to bet two hats and he took that too" "A real bet?" asked the reporter "A real bet" said Rochester who is the b-st-natured celebrity seen here in a long time He seems to like meeting people "I've never been this far North Well I can use a couple of new hats- Maybe Sully can hut he won't get the chance" Van Anheim was last of the old-time minstrel maestros Year after year he brought his troop through Maine when all others had become memories Now there Is none Fire Set At 99 taken and most or the company had assembled when the flrt of the celebrities Don Wilson in He looks in real life just as you may have visualized him a big hearty sort of man with a big hearty voice The crowd gave him a hand Then came Bepny himself and there was an outburst of cheers He was smok-i-c a man-sized pipe and looked informal to the last degree His hair isn't glistening black as you see it in the movies but the Benny personality which makes his screen shadow so eloquent oozes out all over him men some added pleasure In Bangor the Opera House was engaged because there Is no ST JOHN'S Nfld Jan 3 --'AP sufficiently Urge hall at Daw Field The huge sound trucks which occupied part of the stage and all of the other equipment csme from Radio City He gave a little humorous mono locue some of it at local expense: death toll in the Knights of Columbus service hostel fire here Dec IX was set officially Saturday at lives as a Royal Commission inquiry into the Art opened before Mr Justice Dunfleld This official figure given by Attorney-General Emerson tallied wlllh the unofficial count suadto after the fire Emerson said an estimated 40 persons were in the wooden building most of them attending a dance when the fire nared out Heraiism of members of the armed ROCHESTER AT THE CAMERA introduced the WAACs and various others and finally warned: "We're going to sing the Maine Stein song at this time of year there is a glistening white mantle but the Weather man had failed to cooperate So the horse owneu by Calvin Johnson of Cimarron Field Oklahoma City and cared for by Prise ilia Dodge of Ohio street Bangor for the found it "hard sledding" as we down-easters say INDIANS IN WAITING Before a building on Main street a group of Penobscot Indians from Old all- in bright regalia waited They were Princess Watawasco Grace Nicola Lucy in the middle of the radio show Benny said: and I want you to join Think of circuits of a not too distant how many remember It? presented Benny an Indian war club "It will be good to use on Rochester or any other small game" she remarked "Yes" he replied quickly "or on Fred Allen" An Indian basket was presented Mary Livingston and the brief the kick your out-of-town relatives will get when they hear your voice!" Then Don Wilson took charge technically although Benny was everywhere at all Umes And Wilson ave some instructions that may i forces Canadian American British and Newfoundland was lnJtru- mental in saving the lives of many women the attorney -tenersl rle-clsred But he a-lKed the names of many of those heroes would never enlighten any planning on attend Vallee!" someone on the stage remarked The half-hour ended and the 1300 in the theatre knew they were again alone "Thanks folks" said Jack Benny "You've been a swell audience!" The 20 minutes that followed were as interesting as had been any in the preceding half hour Rochester sang a number from one of his pictures "Star Spangled Rhythm" and follpwed It by some of the most remarkable dancing ever seen on a Bangor stage Eccentric dancing in the last degree and yet grace personified The audience went wild Encouraged he returned and sang a number from the first picture in which he and Benny were "Man About Town" Sam Hearn (Schleppermann) was heard in songs and jokes that went well The one about Lana Turner we had always heard accredited to Mae West It was ten minutes to nine when lnc another nation-wide broad cast Ihe police and soldiery would let It long before Jack Benny and his associates arrived Saturday forenoon One squirming eager mass' of humanity filled the lower train shed and overflowed Into Exchange street at least as many as had greeted Dorothy Lamour When the train arrived at 1:43 Benny and his companions stepped straight into a battery of more cameras than ever they had faced in Hollywood Flash bulbs lighted the whole shed Perched on a bag-gage truck and muffled In- a scarf that matched the bulbs in dazzling one's eyes Rochester turned the tables by catching them with a motion picture camera Fifteen policemen commanded by Chief Thomas I Crowley escorted the group to where twin lines of soldiers from Dow Field cut "We'd like to keep this Up all night but there's a throng outside and we really ought to jet tjhem in" He didn't exaggerate Hundreds were waiting for a block in either direction Police carved a lane straight across the street to the opposite sidewalk and through this lane the departing audience passed It was a metropolitan idea and might be used to advantage some other time The police showed marked efficiency the visit of celebrities Is always a trying period for as did the firemen who insured the safety bf those within the theatre The second show all agreed was even better than the first THE PARTY ARRIVES A human tide engulfed the Maine Central station at least as far as You the audience are to play a definite and important part in the show Don't be afraid to laugh Let oeknowm for they gave their anonymously ceremony was over The procession continued to the Bangor Bouse and the human tide swept la through two entrances flooding not only the lobby but the corridors Seldom Is there such an all-embracing persistent throng a Republican state convention "night before" would have been nothing to it Benny and a few of his companions sought refuge in the din a narrow pathway through the throng Here a welcome was" extended by Col Francis Valentine commandant at the Field ami Curtis HutchjLnS representing the City Council while the military band playecfjkid the human tide- did its heewWhich wasn't enough to break through the khaki wall So the suave comedian and his companions reached the relative security of Railroad square and here they found a horse-drawn sleigh and three trucks in waiting There was to have been a pung also but it had an accident on its way to the station So Benny and Mary Livingston who is Mrs Ranco Chief Bruce Poolaw Albert Nicola and Bobby Little Beaver The men gave a brief war dance and then Chief Poolaw and Jack Benney were introduced A moment later the latter became an honorary member of the Order of Maine Guides concretely expressed by a Maine guide's regulation shirt which Poolaw handed him ''I'll give you your first lesson in how to call a moose" said Poolaw and the lusty notes echoed up and down Main street Then Princess Watawasco headline artist on the Keith and Poll vour laughter roll -forth he said "whenever you feel the urge But we do want you to have a good time that's the main reason we re nere He introduced Mary Livingston Col Beretta of the United State forces in Newfoundland sat with Justice Dunfleld who presided at the inquiry After the attorney-general's statement was read Justice Dunfleld announced closed sessions would be held for the balance of the Inquiry since It was felt reliable evidence could best be obtained by eacludine from the proceedings all but the Mrs Benny in pri'ate who ing room At 8:30 the visitors were guests at a banquet where they met a wax a favorite: Dennis Day tne sineer and various others Final ly came Rochester in a suit bluer number of Bangor people There iwijfll -i iiirijii nn rtllilMBiiiiiiiiiuMuMBTI fi il fliliiluFi i i iisuMiisll1iiifllliiiiii rtiilllil i ii than the Caribbean and the aucu-ence shouted and cheered 'He got more applause than I' romDlained Benny good-naturedly commission its the witnesses Rose Blane who wasntheard on the' radio then a Negro The beetle in proportion to its weight la the strongest living being spiritual the orchestra joining with a synchronized stamping and clapping of hands The idea flnallv spread to the audience esneciallv the colored soldiers For Health's Sake! mm mm duasfluB therein Benny then came forward with his violin whereupon cries of "No no no!" were heard in all parts of the theatre He was not to be discouraged As a matter of fact for a minute or two he played beautifully We have an idea he Is really a skillful musician But he turned it into a gag which of -course was the purpose of it all GREW LARGER The tall clock at the side of the proscenium registered seven Those on the stage now appeared business-like attentive Scripts appeared in the principals' hands PhBmR yLaW MOTg 3L JmWimmlJm JBIBBf JLmTmm SpsLm Bwufc3 BuMaLrBfcuuiTB SatBuMsB ImtimmLmA kmmmmmmt MMPBtSg qEsWlsflfiP WfT-l BmuITsuM aBsTukJ mWmm BJKH BiMbI SK sV "1 fll sP Jui flKxjvvjHs jL lui HflHrMufl rJuJuul fl HHfsfl 1 llfl FOR HOME FOR OFFICE FOR SHOP Bemk pteaty ef Oak Spring WaUr for OAR GROVE SPUN WATU FARM OVER 3000 SEE JACK BENNY BROADCAST AND SHOW Above are two cross-section photos of the over 3000 soldiers sailors Waac's and civilians that packed the Baneor ar Nartk state sc Opera House last night and hear two performances by the Jack Benny troupe The one at the left shows a section of the orchestra and at right a view of the balcony wX I 1 1 -IT lr: FT' I.